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I've seen a lot of news about the US Goverment being bankrupt.
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Who ever says the USA is bankrupt is an idiot and should be ignored. Let's get this straight - the USA is not bankrupt. Some are questioning whether we will go into bankruptcy once Boomers retire en masse due to questions regarding the long-term solvency of certain entitlement programs aimed at the middle class (Medicare & Social Security, basically)....
The real question that everyone has is not whether or not the USA will pay back its loans; but, rather, how inflation will effect the value of bonds.
Example: Say, one year ago, Swiss citizen #2 turns 100,000 Swiss Francs into USD, and then uses this money to buy American T-Bonds. One year later, he sells his bonds. Now, he'd have a bit more than 100,000 - but, because the dollar lost 30% of it's value against the Swiss Franc, if he converted the dollars back into Francs he'd only have 70,000 Francs.
However, as I stated earlier, this inflation isn't all that bad for the USA. It makes our debt cheaper. It makes items from America cheaper - not just products, but our services, natural resources, etc. This has a positive effect on our trade deficit.
Understand?
Now, there's a lot of political spin being put on this issue, but you know that old saying, "put your money where your mouth is?" People do this - everyday - in regards to Government bonds. And guess what? The same day America lost one of it's Triple A ratings, the interest rates on American Bonds fell because people are buying them in greater numbers.
Why are people continuing the buy American Govt. Debt? Because the Eurozone is getting squeezed, Japan's fiscal house is even more out of wack, and the BRIC faces massive problems.
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Theoretically, the government can spend as much as it wants without going out of business, making it the wealthiest organization in the world.
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This is wrong. Governments can and have become insolvent. For lulz, read about hyperinflation.